NBA Playoff Picture 2026, Updated Bracket, Standings After Celtics Clinch Spot

For the 12th straight year, the Boston Celtics will be in the running for an NBA championship.

The Celtics clinched a spot in the playoffs following Sunday's 114-99 win over the Charlotte Hornets, extending their postseason streak to 12 consecutive seasons.

Here's a look at the updated standings after Boston earned its playoff spot.

Eastern Conference

1. Detroit Pistons (54-20) — Clinched playoff berth
2. Boston Celtics (50-24) — Clinched playoff berth
3. New York Knicks (48-27)
4. Cleveland Cavaliers (46-28)
5. Toronto Raptors (42-32)
6. Atlanta Hawks (42-33)
7. Philadelphia 76ers (41-33)
8. Orlando Magic (39-35)
9. Miami Heat (39-36)
10. Charlotte Hornets (39-36)
11. Milwaukee Bucks (29-45) — Eliminated
12. Chicago Bulls (29-45) — Eliminated
13. Washington Wizards (17-57) — Eliminated
14. Brooklyn Nets (17-57) — Eliminated
15. Indiana Pacers (17-58) — Eliminated

Western Conference

1. Oklahoma City Thunder (59-16) — Clinched playoff berth
2. San Antonio Spurs (56-18) — Clinched playoff berth
3. Los Angeles Lakers (48-26)
4. Denver Nuggets (48-28)
5. Minnesota Timberwolves (45-29)
6. Houston Rockets (45-29)
7. Phoenix Suns (41-33)
8. Los Angeles Clippers (39-36)
9. Portland Trail Blazers (38-38)
10. Golden State Warriors (36-39)
11. Memphis Grizzlies (25-49) — Eliminated
12. New Orleans Pelicans (25-51) — Eliminated
13. Dallas Mavericks (24-50) — Eliminated
14. Utah Jazz (21-54) — Eliminated
15. Sacramento Kings (19-57) — Eliminated

The Celtics were expected to have trouble maintaining their spot as a title contender after star forward Jayson Tatum suffered a torn Achilles tendon in last year's playoffs. Boston also parted ways with key veterans like Jrue Holiday, Al Horford and Kristaps Porzingis over the offseason.

However, star guard Jaylen Brown's emergence as an MVP candidate and head coach Joe Mazzulla's immaculate leadership kept the Celtics in their usual position near the top of the Eastern Conference.

While Tatum returned to action in March, Brown has solidified himself as Boston's No. 1 option. The 29-year-old ranks fifth in the NBA while averaging a career-high 28.5 points per game. He's also added career bests of 7.0 rebounds and 5.1 assists while shouldering the offensive load for the Celtics.

Under Mazzulla's direction, Boston has been one of the best defensive teams in the league this season, ranking first with 107.0 points allowed per game. He's managed to bring the best out of players who assumed larger roles in Tatum's absence, like sharpshooting guard Payton Pritchard and big man Neemias Queta.

Getting Tatum back in the lineup improves the Celtics' chances of making a second trip to the NBA Finals in the last three years, and their path through the East could be even easier after the Detroit Pistons lost star guard Cade Cunningham to a collapsed lung.

Boston will also likely have to go through the New York Knicks or Cleveland Cavaliers for Eastern Conference supremacy.

Still, it's hard to pick against the Celtics as they continue to work Tatum back into the fold while Brown is leading the way.